Saturday, February 5, 2011

The rough edge of Christian blogging

"Accordingly the spiritual director should be discerning in his silence and profitable in his speech, otherwise he might say something that should have been suppressed or suppress something that should have been said. For just as reckless speaking leads someone into error, so indiscreet silence leaves in error those who might have been instructed. For often, reckless directors, who fear to lose human favor, are afraid to speak freely about what is right. And, according to the voice of the Truth, they fail to attend to the care of their flock as shepherds and instead act as mercenaries. This is because they flee and hide themselves in silence whenever a wolf approaches. Thus, the Lord scolds them through the prophet, saying: 'Dumb dogs, who cannot bark' (Isaiah 56:10). Again he complains, saying: 'You have not gone up against the enemy nor have you built a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord' (Ezekiel 13:5). Indeed, to 'go up against the enemy' is to oppose worldly powers in the defense of the flock. And to 'stand in battle on the day of the Lord' is to resist, out of love of justice, evil persons who oppose us. For if a shepherd fears to say what is right, what else is it but to turn his back in silence? But certainly, if he puts himself before the flock [so as to protect them], he 'builds a wall for the house of Israel' against its enemies." Gregory the Great, The Book of Pastoral Rule, II.4